Chapter 13 - The Ultimatum|
"Back off, Arthur!" Elena stood up, shielding Mateo from the lawyer's intense glare. "He's my son, not a pawn in your legal games. I told you to stop the media attacks on Mariana."
Arthur scoffed, adjusting his expensive silk tie. "You pay me to win, Elena. Mariana Reyes has the sympathy vote. I have to destroy her credibility, or the judge will never grant you full custody."
"I said stop it!" Elena shouted, drawing the attention of the few patrons in the diner.
"It's too late," Vance smiled cruelly, pulling a folded newspaper from his briefcase and tossing it onto the table. "The state has officially suspended her foster license pending a full investigation. By tonight, Child Protective Services will be at the center to remove the children."
Mateo felt the blood drain from his head. "No... no, you can't do that. Those kids have nowhere else to go!"
"Then you know what you have to do, kid," Vance leaned in close, tapping the table with his knuckles. "Come with us right now. Willingly. Sign an affidavit stating Mariana forced you to stay with her against your will. Do that, and I make the investigation disappear. The other kids stay put."
"You're blackmailing a teenager," Elena gasped, turning on her lawyer. "You're fired, Arthur. Get out."
Arthur laughed—a cold, empty sound. "You can't fire me, Elena. Your father’s trust pays my retainer, and the board insists I handle this case to ensure the 'family heir' is secured. You don't call the shots. I do."
Vance turned back to Mateo. "You have until 5:00 PM today. If you aren't waiting outside the center with your bags packed, CPS raids the place at 5:01."
He turned on his heel and walked out, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.
Mateo looked at Elena. She looked just as trapped as he felt.
"I'm so sorry," she sobbed, reaching across the table to grab his hand.
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Mateo pulled his hand away, his jaw set in a hard line. He grabbed the envelope containing the forged death certificate and medical records.
"I'm not leaving Mariana," Mateo said, his voice dropping to a fierce, resolute pitch. "And I'm not going to let him destroy my home. If he wants a war, he's got one."
